How do I Remove the Rear Wheel of a Riding Lawn Mower That Is Not Held by 4 Bolts?

Park the mower on a sidewalk or driveway. This provides a hard surface for jacking and blocking the rear of the mower to assist in removing the wheel.

Set the parking brake on the mower and place the transmission in reverse. Set a brick or square 4 x 4 block against the front wheels to prevent the mower from rolling while jacking the mower up.

Jack up the rear of the mower with a car jack. With the rear tire slightly off the ground, place a stack of bricks or boards under the rear transmission to hold the mower in position.

Remove the plastic dust cover from the center of the rear wheel. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry the dust cover off to expose the snap ring and washer.

Remove the snap ring attached to the axle. Position a large regular screwdriver into one of the two gaps between the inside diameter of the snap ring and the circumference of the axle. Twist the screwdriver in either direction to lift the snap ring out of its groove. Set the snap ring in the dust cover for safekeeping.

Remove the flat washer from around the axle by hand and set it into the dust cover.

Grasp the wheel with both hands and pull it off the axle. Wiggle the wheel slightly back and forth to work the wheel from the axle. A square key between the wheel and axle holds the wheel in place--keep track of it for re-installing the wheel later.